The World Cup finally gets underway tonight in Sao Paula when hosts Brazil take on Croatia (9pm kick-off).

And to mark the occasion we've caught up with some of Reading's players, as well as former star Adam Le Fondre, to get their views on what they think will happen during the torunament.

From England's chances of success, to who will win the golden boot, find out what they said right here.

We’ll start with the big question then, how do you think England will do in Brazil?

Danny Williams - They have a tough group, especially with two teams who are used to the South American conditions in there and Italy so I think it will be tough for them to make it through that group.

Uruguay and Costa Rica are more used to the humidity they will face over there. I will be interested to see how England get on over there.

Chris Gunter - Normally when England go into World Cups or the Euros there is an expectancy, but this year there doesn’t seem to be as much and that might work out well.

There are more young players in the squad that I can remember for a long time so I think people are almost now looking forward to seeing how they will do.

As a young player they can almost play without fear. They probably know they can play at another tournament in the future so won’t be thinking it’s their last chance where as someone like Gerrard will be thinking the opposite.

I think they will actually do well. The first game with Italy will be quite tight but I think they will definitely get out of the group. Then it all depends on who they get in the knock-outs.

If I was going to take a guess I would say they will get to the quarters.

Adam Le Fondre - I’m hoping they get through the group. Obviously it’s quite a tough group and the climate is against most English-based players but I’m sure with the quality England possess they can get through.

I think realistically the quarter-finals will be good enough for them. We’ve got quite a young team so if we can get to the quarters then we’ll come round to the Euros in a good position to go forward.

If you look at the players we’ve got it’s exciting. Adam Lallana has come through and had a fantastic season in the Premier League. Raheem Sterling has done really well at Liverpool, Daniel Sturridge has been at the forefront with Luis Suarez while Liverpool were fighting for the title.

It’s a good time for British youngsters. They’ve broken through and are getting their just rewards now. Hopefully it’s going to be exciting times for England in the future.

Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge could be key to England's hopes.

Sean Morrison - They’ve got a difficult group and where some of the games are being played are quite difficult. The humidity is 99 per cent.

But if they can squeeze through the group stages, nick second place, they can potentially do well.

When it goes to the knock-outs it then turns into a lottery.

I reckon we might make the quarter-finals but I can’t see us do much better than that.

Hope Akpan - Quarter-finals I would say.

With the group they’ve got they will be happy to get out of it initially.

I think if they get to the quarters, the teams there will be solid so anything further than that would be amazing.

So who will be England’s star man this summer?

Danny Williams - It’s a tough one. You look at their squad and they have some of the best players in the world.

They have Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney. But I think last season went so well for Liverpool that Gerrard will have that extra level of confidence. I’m looking forward to watching him play.

Chris Gunter - I think one of the younger players will catch everyone’s eye. People will be expecting Gerrard, Rooney, people like that to do well.

But I think there will be one of the younger guys who stands out, maybe Adam Lallana.

If he’s in the team I think he will do really well because he’s had such a good season. I would love to see someone like him, or maybe Raheem Sterling emerge.

Adam Lallana has been tipped to shine for England in Brazil.

Adam Le Fondre - It’s got to be Wayne Rooney hasn’t it? He’s not really played to his full potential at previous tournaments and I’m sure he’ll be the first to admit that he’s flattered to deceive.

But maybe this is the tournament that he sets his stall out as a world class player and dictates the way England play.

If he plays to his full capability he’s a fantastic player and he’s been in good form for United this season so I don’t see why he can’t stamp his authority on this tournament.

Sean Morrison - I think the star man will be Gary Cahill.

Hope Akpan - Hopefully Wayne Rooney will be the star man, he’s due a big tournament.

Who's going to win it then?

Danny Williams - I think Brazil will win it.

Chris Gunter - I think most people will say Brazil have got a good chance.

But when you host it and there’s that amount of expectation on you, it makes things very difficult.

So if I had to pick one team I would say maybe Argentina.

They are due a long run in a tournament and they have Lionel Messi and players likes Pablo Zabaleta as well.

Neymar could fire Brazil to World Cup glory.

Adam Le Fondre - You can’t look too far beyond Brazil, being the home nation and with the talent they’ve got.

I think a lot will say Spain but I don’t think they will retain it so I think I’ll go with Brazil.

I’m sure that will be a pretty standard answer but I think they will get the home win.

Sean Morrison - My money would probably be on Germany or Brazil.

Obviously with Brazil being at home and with the climate they could do it.

Germany will do well but maybe the climate might make them struggle a bit.

I’ll say they will be the best European team but I wouldn’t be surprised if Brazil won it.

Hope Akpan - I have to go with Brazil I think.

Home advantage will count and they have a great squad.

What about the tournament’s surprise package?

Danny Williams - Belgium will be the big surprise, they have some very good players at the moment.

I hope we (USA) will be a surprise as well. We have a strong squad but our group is the toughest.

We have Germany, Portugal and Ghana so it’s important we try and get a result in the first game against Ghana, then we will see.

Belgium will be the tournament's surprise package according to Danny Williams.

Chris Gunter - When Garath McCleary plays for Jamaica it always works out that they are on TV when I get back from playing for Wales at about 3am in the morning.

And because I can’t sleep after games I always watch them. In the group when they were qualifying they had Mexico, Honduras, USA and Costa Rica.

I thought Honduras were unbelievable and Costa Rica were also very good.

So, as I can guarantee no-one has said Honduras yet, I’ll say them as they have got France, Equador and Switzerland in their group.

I just remember watching them on TV, thinking they were unbelievable and then speaking to Garath after and he said they were brilliant.

Adam Le Fondre - I think Uruguay will be right up there. Maybe they won’t be too much of a surprise though as they have a team full of quality players.

With it being in South America, obviously not far from them and with the front two they’ve got, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, they will be too good for a lot of teams.

Underestimate Uruguay at your peril. They are top quality.

Sean Morrison - I will go with one of the South American teams, maybe Chile.

Hope Akpan - Uruguay. They have some great forwards like (Luis) Suarez and (Edinson) Cavani.

And the top top scorer? Who’s going to win the golden boot?

Danny Williams - That’s a tough one. There are a lot of good strikers but most of the teams, like Germany they don’t really play with a proper forward now. They have a wrong No. 9 like Thomas Muller who scored a lot last time because he ran from the back.

Maybe one of those sort of players could score a few goals and win.

But Luis Suarez is in such good form so, as long as he is fit, I will say him.

Chris Gunter - Looking at the groups, Argentina have a decent one.

They have Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria so you fancy Messi to score a few goals against those teams.

If I’m saying Argentina to win I’m going to say Messi for top scorer as well.